Loose-leaf post binder



Oct. 1, 1929. c. A: FINLEY I 1,730,130

LOOSE LEAF POST BINDER Filed April 4. 1927 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1/ W m a AZ2 IN V EN TOR. z T 3 CHARLES A. FINLEY 72819 aharnqs Q Oct. 1, 1929. c.A. FINLEY 7 1,730,130

LOOSE LEAF POST BINDER I Filed April 4. 192'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'INVENTORQ CHARLES A.FINLEY by his aiiorngs U N I T CHARLES A. FINLEY,OFRUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASS-IGNOR TO BOORTIIVI & PEASE COMPANY, OFBROOKLYN, KEV] YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEVJ YORK LOOSE-LEAF POST BINDERApplication filed April 4,

This invention relates to loose leaf post binders and more particularlyto loose leaf post binders in which the posts project through the hollowtop clamping bar. One object of my invention is to provide a binderwhich is neat in appearance, economical to manufacture, easy to assembleand so constructed as to withstand shocks. Another object of theinvention is the provision of a binder which can be made in varioussizes from one common stock of parts. In the type of binder to which theinvention relates,

the posts on which the sheets are threaded are mounted in a lowerclamping bar and project through an upper clamping bar, the latterhaving locking means therein adapted to prevent removal of the clampingbar. a

In this type of binder it has been customary to make the clamping bar ofhollow or rolled tubular material and it has been diflicult to assemblethe locking means in the bar. The process of assembling the device hasalso been expensive and the manufacture of difierent sizes of bindershas required the carrying of different stock for each size. It has beendiscovered that great economies can be effected in the cost of materialand methods and time of assembly and a stronger binder produced if thefollowing novel construction of clamping bar is employed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a binder, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation partly in section through the clampingbars taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 8 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section through one endof the clamping bar taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a plan view of one end of the top clamping bar taken on thehorizontal section line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one end of the clamping bars;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of a modified form of clamping bar; while Fig.7 is a similar cross section of a further modified form. 7

According to this invention each clamp- 1927. Serial No. 180,970.

ing bar includes an angled metal strip having at least two walls andpreferably consisting of a three-sided channel iron, and a hinge platetherefor which when assembled together constitute the four walls orfaces of the clamping bar. In the preferred em bodiment shown in Figs. 1to 5 of the drawings the upper clamping bar consists of a U shapedchannel iron 11 open at the bottom and a flat hinge plate 12 adapted tobe fastened to the channel iron by means of rivets 13 taking into thechannel iron thus closing the latter. The two edges of the channel ironare rabbeted in order that the hinge plate may set in the rabbets 24 andbe flush with the ends of the channel iron. There are hinge knuckles orlugs 14 on the hinge plate 12 which provide means for attaching a cover15 to the clamping bar. These lugs interlock with the rabbets 24 thusmaintaining the plate in its proper lengthwise position. The hinge platealso carries the individual locks. 16 which constitute the means forlocking the upper clamping bar on the posts 17. In the drawings thelocks are shown attached by means of screws 23. In each end of thechannel iron is fitted a solid end cap 18 and one of the rivets 13 canbe passed through the hinge plate 12 and end cap 18 into the channeliron 11 thus fastening the three elements together. Thus two rivets, oneat each end of the clamping bar, can serve to assemble the whole structure although an additional rivet or two can be placed in the middle ofthe channel iron if desired. In the embodiment shown in the drawings theindividual locks are of the pivoted clutch type operable from the top ofthe clamping bar by pressing downwardly on a button 19 projectingthrough the top of the channel iron. These buttons operate on thepivoted clutch members 20 which form part of the locks 16 screwed to thecover plate 12.

It will be perfectly obvious that the lower clamping bar'may beconstructed in identically the same manner except of course that insteadof locks fastened to the hinge plate the posts 17 are screwed to thehinge plate or passed through the same, mounted on blocks 21 therein, orfastened to the clamping bar in any other suitable manner. The blocks 21may be fastened to the hinge plate or to the channel iron as desired.

The channel iron or angled strip can be .made of extruded metal such asaluminum or vantage. To cover the clamping bar cover material 22, suchas cloth, is wrapped around the channel iron and the two longitudinaledges laid over the rabbets 24011 the legs of the channel iron. When thehinge plate is laid in the rabbets and fastened to the channel iron, thecover material is stretched and held in position andits edges kept outof sight. The rivets can pass through the cover material, as shown inFig. 2, if desired. If it is desired to cover the hinge plate as well,then a second piece of cover material can be stretched and held in asimilar manner. It should be noted that if the binder is dropped orreceives a knock in any other manner, that blow will not fall on theelement carrying the hinge lugs and the locks but on the channel iron.The blow is also cushioned by the introduction of the cloth coverbetween the hinge plate and the channel iron.

The advantages of this construction with regard to economy in time andcost of assembly. will be obvious. In assembling the device heretoforeithas been necessary to mount the locks inside the closed tube and inthe type of binder illustrated in the drawings it has been particularlyhard to assemble the lock itself, the operating button project ingthrough the clamping bar and the clamp-- ing bar itself.

If desired, the angled metal strip may form only two sides of theclamping bar as illustrated in Figs. 6 andZ. In Fig.6 the angled strip27 forms the top and inner walls, while the cover plate 26 forms theother two walls and carries the hinge lugs 14. In Fig. 7 the angledstrip 25 forms the top and inner walls and carries the hinge lugs 14,while the cover plate forms only the other two walls.

In assembling a binder made according to the present invention theindividual locks are fastened to the piece ofmaterial constituting thehinge plate. The channel iron or angled strip is turned upside down andthe button put in its hole, the cover plate inverted, laid on thechannel iron and fastened in position. The whole device is thusassembled without any problem of fitting the parts together and there isno working in confined spaces. The ease in attaching the cloth coverneeds no description and the neatness of the result will be equallyobvious. It will also be observed that there is no projection of anykind which can be availed of to pry the parts of the clamping bar apartand the combined elements interlock with each other at all points. Itmight also be noted with regard to the hinge lugs that they are formedas part of the cover plate which is, a flat piece of metal, thusinsuring ease in manufacture, and that this element is so rigidlyattached to the restof the clamping bar that the hinge lugs can never bepulled out of position. The simplicity of the structure is obvious.

What I claim is:

1. A loose leaf post binder having a hollow clamping bar composed of astrip angular in cross-section having at least two walls, and a coverplate therefor, in combination with cover material for said clamping barwhose longitudinal edges are gripped between said angled strip and saidplate- 2. A loose leaf post binder having a hollow clamping bar composedof a channel iron adapted to form three sides of said bar in combinationwith a hinge plate adapted to form the fourth side, hinge lugs integralwith said hinge plate and locking means for the posts mounted on saidhinge plate.

3. A loose leaf post binder having a hollow clamping bar consisting of aU-shaped channel iron, a plate adapted to close the opening between thelegs of said channel iron, in combination with cover material for" saidchannel iron whose longitudinal edges are gripped between said channeliron and said plate.

4. A loose leaf post binder having a hollow clamping bar consisting of aU-shaped channel iron, a hinge plate fitting flush into the openingbetween the legs of said channel iron, and hinge lugs integral with saidhinge plate in combination with cover material for said channel ironwhose edges are gripped be tween said channel iron and said hinge plate.

5. A loose leaf post binder having two hollow clamping bars with theposts adapted to project through one of said clamping bars, eachclamping 'bar comprising an angled metal strip, a hinge plate adapted toclose the opening between the legs of said metal strip and having hingelugs integral therewith, and individual locks attached to the hingeplate of the upper clamping bar, in combination with buttons foroperating said individual locks projecting through openings in the topof the angled strip of the upper of said clamping bars.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES A. FINLEY.

